Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/273

 the avenger of blood is to J (ch. 4) a truth of nature; to P it rests on a positive enactment.—from the hand of every beast] see Ex. 21$28f.$.—6a is remarkable for its assonances and the perfect symmetry of the two members: formula which had become proverbial (Gu.). The TT?] (v.i.) read into the text the idea of judicial procedure; others (Tu. al.) suppose the law of blood-revenge to be contemplated. In reality the manner of execution is left quite indefinite.—6b. The reason for the higher value set on the life of man. On the image of God see on 1$26f.$.—7. The section closes, as it began, with the note of benediction.
 * . It is possibly an ancient judicial

8-17. The Covenant and its Sign.—In P as in J (8$20-22$) the story of the Flood closes with an assurance that the world shall never again be visited by such a catastrophe; and in both the promise is absolute, not contingent on the behaviour of the creatures. In P it takes the form of a covenant between God and all flesh,—the first of two covenants by which (according to this writer) the relations of the Almighty to His creatures are regulated. On the content and scope of this Noachic covenant, see the concluding note, p. 173 f.—9. establish my covenant] in fulfilment of 6$18$. P's formula for the inauguration of the covenant is always or  (17$2$, Nu. 25$12$) instead of the more ancient and technical .—11. The essence of the covenant is that the earth shall never be devastated by a Flood. Whether its idea be exhausted by this assurance

one man that of another.' The full expression would be (Ols.); but all languages use breviloquence in the expression of reciprocity. The construction is hardly more difficult than in 15$10$ 42$25. 35$; and an exact parallel occurs in Zec. 7$10$. See G-K. § 139 c; Bu. 283 ff. The of [E] SV makes nonsense; G omits the previous . It would be better to move the Athnach so as to commence a new clause with .—6. ] V om.; T$O$ : T$J$ is still more explicit.—7. ] V et implete eam (as v.$1$). Read after 1$28$ (Nestle in Ball).

10. ] 'as many as'; see on 6$2$.—] G om.—] perhaps = 'in short': cf. 23$10$, see G-K. § 143 e. The sense of = 'animals' in general, immediately after the same expression in the sense of 'wild animals,' makes the phrase suspicious (Ho.).—11. ] [E] ;